Amusement devices



Jan. 12, 1960 'r. o. BRITT 2,920,418 AMUSEMENT DEVICES Filed Feb. 24, 1958 INVEINTOR [Tia/2201s 0. fi 'zaa,

BY m v aw4 ATTORNEY6.

nitecl States Patent 2,920,411;v AMUSEMENT nnvrciis ThomasO. Britt, Raleigh, no. Application February '24, 195 8, ski-tar No. 71*),2'4'1 1 Claim. (01.46-47) This invention relates to an amusement device.

The invention is more particularly concerned with a toy or a pastime amusement device which is highly fascinating in use and which is operable by the thumb and index finger of both hands thereby providing a convenient and desirable exercising device for the thumb and index finger.

A primary feature of the invention is the provision of an amusement device embodying a shaft oscillatable by thumb and index finger on which is supported a wheel for rotation in opposite directions. The wheel also has simultaneous movement axially of the shaft together with means for effecting said movements of the wheel relative to the shaft.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of an amusement device of the above noted general character wherein a pair of wheels are mounted on the shaft for rotation in opposite directions and for simultaneous movement axially of the shaft and with a variable spacing of the wheels axially of the shaft.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved device in accordance with one convenient structural embodiment thereof;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental axial sectional view on a substantially enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view substantially in the plane of line 4-4 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified emboaciiment of the device and being shown on a reduced so e.

Referring now in detail to the drawing and first to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, the improved amusement device will be seen to comprise an elongated cylindrical shaft 11 whose opposite ends are suitably rigidly secured in adjacent ends of a pair of handles 12 which, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 2, are preferably of polygonal form in cross section to facilitate rolling of same between the thumbs and fingers of a person as will hereinafter more fully appear. The handles 12 may be of any desired material but which are preferably of plastic.

The shaft 11 is provided with a spiral groove 13 which extends from one handle for a substantial distance toward the other handle or the groove may in fact extend throughout the length of the shaft.

Supported on the shaft 11 for rotation about the axis thereof and for limited movement along the axis is a wheel 14 preferably of plastic material and which embodies an elongated hub 15, a relatively wide cylindrical rim 16 and a centrally disposed web 17 connecting the hub and the rim. The web 17 is as shown preferably provided with a plurality of apertures 18.

Metal caps 19 and 20 are frictionally supported on v2 opposite ends of the hub 15, the former of which in particular is provided with an inwardly extending end flange 21- 1 V v v Supported in the outer flanged end of the hub cap 19 is a substantially circular resilient wire memb'er'22 which simultaneously with rotation thereof.

A substantially light gauge coil spring 24 encircles the shaft 11 intermediate the cap 19 and the adjacent end of the opposed handle 12, the spring extending throughout the length of the bore 15 of the hub. One end of the spring 24 is provided with a portion 25 which overlies the hub 15 and which is frictionally gripped and retained in position by the hub cap 19 as is clearly indicated in Fig. 3. The opposite end of the spring 24 is suitably soldered or welded to the shaft 11 as at 26.

In operation of the improved device, each handle 12 is engaged by the thumb and index finger of a respective hand of a person and upon rolling the ends of the thumbs and fingers on the surfaces of the handles 12, the same, together with the shaft 11, are oscillated about the common axis thereof.

At this point it is to be observed that the tension in the springs 24 is such that the wheel 14 is normally disposed intermediate the adjacent ends of the handles 12.

Upon oscillation of the shaft 11 however, the finger 23 riding in the spiral groove 13 will impart rotation to the wheel 14 in opposite directions corresponding to those of oscillation of the shaft 11 while the wheel will also move axially of the shaft and upon predetermined tension in the spring 24 the wheel 14 will be constrained to move axially of the shaft in a direction toward the fixed end of the spring.

The structure is in fact such that the wheel will no tate in opposite directions while moving axially of the shaft and as indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. l, the extreme movements of the wheel axially of the shaft will be substantially equal relative to the opposed handles 12.

The device is relatively simple in construction, is durable in use and is one which provides convenient pastime amusement.

The embodiment 10' of the invention disclosed in Fig. 5 is similar to that of Figs. 1 to 4 but same embodies a pair of wheels 14 and in view of which a longer shaft 11 is used.

In this modified embodiment of the invention, the springs 24' have adjacent ends thereof secured to the shaft 11' intermediate the two wheels 14 as indicated at 30 and a sleeve 31 is frictionally engaged with the shaft and conceals the spring connections 30 to the shaft 11'.

Each wheel 14' is provided with a hub as in Figs. 1 to 4 and each hub is provided with a cap 19', 20', in the former of which are disposed the 'wire drive members 22 and which caps also retain the opposite ends of the springs 24'.

The structure disclosed in Fig. 5 operates similarly to that of Figs. 1 to 4 but is more attractive due to the movements of two wheels instead of one and which wheels move axially of the shaft as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines.

I claim:

An amusement device comprising an elongated cylindrical shaft, a thumb and finger grippable handle on each end of said shaft, said shaft having a spiral groove in 2,920A18 A V the periphery thereof, a pair of wheels freely disposed on said shaft, a sleeve frictionally engaged over said shaft at a position between said wheels, a pair of coil springs encircling said shaft, adjacent ends of said springs being connected to said shaft at positions within said S166V8,"Eh6 opposite ends of said springs being connected with said wheels, said springs normally holding said wheels on said shaft at positions intermediate said sleeve and said handles, and ,means supported by said wheels and cooperating with said spiral groove for effecting movement of said wheels axially of said shaft upon rotation of the wheels and against the action of said springs.

References Cited in'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Sept. 9, 1922 

